Calif. Lawmaker Nabbed On Drug Suspicion

Calif. Lawmaker Nabbed on Drug Suspicion

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/councilwoman_arrested

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg....sted_la101.jpg

Fri Jul 15,12:43 PM ET

BURBANK, Calif. - A city councilwoman was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession after her boyfriend told authorities they had used the drug together and he had associated with a notorious street gang and sold guns to a member.

Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, 47, was arrested Wednesday night at her home, where law enforcement agents served a federal search warrant, police said Thursday. Police found cocaine, three loaded handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition, they said.

She posted $100,000 bail and was released from jail Thursday. Arraignment was set for Aug. 25. Phone calls left for Murphy at her office and home by The Associated Press were not returned, but the former Burbank mayor told the Pasadena Star-News, "I'm really pretty shocked about this whole thing."

Also arrested were Murphy's boyfriend, businessman Scott Schaffer, who faces federal firearms and narcotic violations, and an associate of Schaffer's.

The arrests grew out of an investigation of a San Fernando Valley gang that authorities link to the slayings of two police officers. Authorities say they have arrested more than 200 gang members over the last 18 months, seizing cars, firearms, at least $500,000 in cash and more than 300 pounds of narcotics.

According to an affidavit, Schaffer, 51, agreed to cooperate with authorities after a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun found at the home of a gang member was traced to him. Schaffer admitted purchasing cocaine from the gang and selling handguns to one member, the affidavit said.

Schaffer also told police that Murphy was aware that two of his associates were gang members and that he and Murphy had purchased cocaine and used it. Murphy, who has three children, also was accused of child endangerment.

Those who know her reacted with shock.

"Stacey Murphy has been a friend and a colleague. To the extent we can help her family and her, we'll stand next to her," Burbank Mayor Jef Vander Borght said.

Murphy has been on the Burbank City Council since 1997 and served as mayor in 1999-2000 and in 2003-04.

The third person taken into custody was Robert Polloreno, 54, who lives with Schaffer. He was arrested on suspicion of grand theft of a firearm.